Rejected twice for starling easy saver

Sam2016

Hi everyone,

(EDITED)

For context I moved to Starling for business and personal accounts in August, they offered me both accounts yet declined the Easy saver twice. I've closed my business accounts with Natwest and kept one current account with them.  I moved to Starling due to savings on business a/c rates and their space features, as the Easy saver too - all being in one place. 

I’ve already spoken to Experian and Equifax this week, and my credit scores are 999 and 1000 respectively, with no negatives on my reports. 

I understand companies conduct internal checks and credit scores are not the be all and end all, but I’m struggling to figure out what could be impacting their decisions. 

I’ve raised a complaint - Starling sent a letter reiterating their internal checks as the reason for declining my application. They’ve also outlined the process to escalate to the Financial Ombudsman if I’m unhappy with their response.

Does anyone have advice on what might be causing these rejections, or how I should approach this situation?

Thanks in advance!

CliveOfIndia

Your credit scores are utterly irrelevant - they're not even visible to anyone but you.

It's simply because you don't meet the criteria that Starling and O2 apply.

Sam2016 said:

For context, I run my own business and have paid a small, regular sum into my bank account each month to cover bills for almost 15 years.

There's a chance that this may be a factor - they could be interpreting this as meaning that you have very little spare cash every month.

Sam2016 said:

I’ve raised complaints with both companies

I'm not sure that you have any grounds for complaints - any company is free to choose whether or not they want to do business with you, for whatever reason.  The only exception being if they discriminated against you based on a protected characteristic (race, religion, sexual identity, etc. etc.)

Sam2016 said:

I’m struggling to figure out what could be impacting their decisions.

Unfortunately you won't be able to find this out - a lender's assessment criteria are highly confidential and commercially sensitive, so they won't give you details.  All they'll tell you is that you don't meet their criteria.

Are all your details recorded correctly on the CRAs - name, address, registered on the ER ?

It's probably not worth causing yourself too much hassle over - just take your business elsewhere.

born_again

Sam2016 said:

Hi everyone,

I’ve been rejected twice recently—once for a Starling Easy Saver account and once for a new line with O2.

I’ve already spoken to Experian and Equifax this week, and my credit scores are 999 and 1000 respectively, with no negatives on my reports.

I understand both companies conduct internal checks, but I’m struggling to figure out what could be impacting their decisions. For context, I run my own business and have paid a small, regular sum into my bank account each month to cover bills for almost 15 years.

I’ve raised complaints with both companies:

• Starling sent a letter reiterating their internal checks as the reason for declining my application. They’ve also outlined the process to escalate to the Financial Ombudsman if I’m unhappy with their response.

• O2 has been unresponsive and difficult to communicate with, so I suspect I’ll need to escalate this further as well.

Does anyone have advice on what might be causing these rejections, or how I should approach this situation?

Thanks in advance!

Are you on electoral roll?

Do your address details match on CRA's? to what you are inputting.

There was another post where someone was getting declined on savings accounts. Which is odd. As there is no credit involved. So has to be something around details being provided.

snozzleburger

I've just been rejected myself for the Starling Easy Saver. I can't begin to think of a reason why. All details correct, account always in credit. At the end of the day this is a savings account not a loan so I'm at a loss to explain it. 

Customer services helpful as ever won't give you an answer so you're left to guess as to the reason why when it could be a simple fix.

What's more annoyong is that one of the reasons for joining Starling was because it paid interest across it's accounts. So at the same time as removing that benefit, they come up with an alternative Savings account which they won't let you use. I smell a rat I'm afraid. If these accounts are subject to eligibility then at least they should play the game and be open about their requirements.

Sam2016

born_again said:

Sam2016 said:

Hi everyone,

I’ve been rejected twice recently—once for a Starling Easy Saver account and once for a new line with O2.

I’ve already spoken to Experian and Equifax this week, and my credit scores are 999 and 1000 respectively, with no negatives on my reports.

I understand both companies conduct internal checks, but I’m struggling to figure out what could be impacting their decisions. For context, I run my own business and have paid a small, regular sum into my bank account each month to cover bills for almost 15 years.

I’ve raised complaints with both companies:

• Starling sent a letter reiterating their internal checks as the reason for declining my application. They’ve also outlined the process to escalate to the Financial Ombudsman if I’m unhappy with their response.

• O2 has been unresponsive and difficult to communicate with, so I suspect I’ll need to escalate this further as well.

Does anyone have advice on what might be causing these rejections, or how I should approach this situation?

Thanks in advance!

Are you on electoral roll?

Do your address details match on CRA's? to what you are inputting.

There was another post where someone was getting declined on savings accounts. Which is odd. As there is no credit involved. So has to be something around details being provided.

Yes to both 

Sam2016

snozzleburger said:

I've just been rejected myself for the Starling Easy Saver. I can't begin to think of a reason why. All details correct, account always in credit. At the end of the day this is a savings account not a loan so I'm at a loss to explain it. 

Customer services helpful as ever won't give you an answer so you're left to guess as to the reason why when it could be a simple fix.

What's more annoyong is that one of the reasons for joining Starling was because it paid interest across its accounts. So at the same time as removing that benefit, they come up with an alternative Savings account which they won't let you use. I smell a rat I'm afraid. If these accounts are subject to eligibility then at least they should play the game and be open about their requirements.

What are you going to do about it?

Sam2016

CliveOfIndia said:

Your credit scores are utterly irrelevant - they're not even visible to anyone but you.

It's simply because you don't meet the criteria that Starling and O2 apply.

Sam2016 said:

For context, I run my own business and have paid a small, regular sum into my bank account each month to cover bills for almost 15 years.

There's a chance that this may be a factor - they could be interpreting this as meaning that you have very little spare cash every month.

Sam2016 said:

I hear that but I’d like to know why so I can do whatever I need to do to change it. I have a phone contract with ee for 20 years, a mortgage and 2-3 credit cards. Of which I only use one and pay every month.

They have given me a current account no problem in august, surely they wouldn’t have given me that in the first instance if I didn’t meet criteria. I already have a phone contract with o2 for my son so it’s easier. I have just transferred to starling this year after being with NatWest for 20 years plus. To leave would be messy again as I have current and business accounts. I wish they had just declined it from the beginning. 

It doesn’t make sense that they would give me 2 new accounts in august and decline a savings account.

snozzleburger

Sam2016 said:

snozzleburger said:

I've just been rejected myself for the Starling Easy Saver. I can't begin to think of a reason why. All details correct, account always in credit. At the end of the day this is a savings account not a loan so I'm at a loss to explain it. 

Customer services helpful as ever won't give you an answer so you're left to guess as to the reason why when it could be a simple fix.

What's more annoyong is that one of the reasons for joining Starling was because it paid interest across its accounts. So at the same time as removing that benefit, they come up with an alternative Savings account which they won't let you use. I smell a rat I'm afraid. If these accounts are subject to eligibility then at least they should play the game and be open about their requirements.

What are you going to do about it?

Well I've put in an official complaint but I'm sure I won't learn anything new or get anywhere with it. I'm just a bit baffled to be honest. I can't see what they've got to lose. At the end of the day I can take my money elsewhere easily enough and it's their loss. Just seems to me a very odd way of doing business. I'll wait to see what comes of it.

penners324

It looks like Starling are having issues opening this account.

Lots of stories of the savings account being declined.

missfoodlove

I too have applied twice and been rejected.
The interest on current accounts will be removed as of February 25 so the easy saver was launched as an alternative. 

I strongly suspect that despite no mention in the eligibility criteria they have set a limit as to how much they are prepared to pay interest on.
I have put a bad review on Trustpilot and have alerted Katie Morley financial investigator for the Telegraph. 

A few bad Trustpilot reviews will hurt!
Unless I get a satisfactory answer by the end of the week my money will be moved. 

Sam2016

missfoodlove said:

I too have applied twice and been rejected.
The interest on current accounts will be removed as of February 25 so the easy saver was launched as an alternative. 

I strongly suspect that despite no mention in the eligibility criteria they have set a limit as to how much they are prepared to pay interest on.
I have put a bad review on Trustpilot and have alerted Katie Morley financial investigator for the Telegraph. 

A few bad Trustpilot reviews will hurt!
Unless I get a satisfactory answer by the end of the week my money will be moved. 

`Love this, I think I'll do the same, thanks!